Self-dispensing containers



Aug. 29, 1967 J. POLLAK 3,338,481

' SELF-DISPENSING CONTAINERS Filed Oct. 8, 1965 INVENTOR JOSUH POL L AW BY 4M ATTORNEY United States Patent 10 Claims. (Cl. 222341) The present invention relates to containers, particularly to self-dispensing or pressure containers for dispensing substances in a simple and convenient manner.

Aerosol containers are examples on one type of selfdispensing containers widely used today. In aerosol containers, a gaseous propellant is introduced into the container during its filling with the normal contents, and forces out the container contents by pressure, as controlled by a hand-operated valve. Such containers, however, have a number of drawbacks, among which are the following: Since the propellant comes into contact with the container contents, the container can be used only where the propellant would not adversely affect the contents, thus precluding their use in a large number of applications; they usually cannot be refilled and reused, as a practical matter, and are therefore thrown away after each use; they must be of very strong material, usually metal, which increases their expense of manufacture; there is a danger of explosion, especially where they are discarded after use into an incinerator; they cannot effectively dispense very small and controlled amounts of the substance, such as a drop; they cannot be completely emptied; they require the use of special filling machines; they are built of a relatively large number of parts; in general, they are relatively expensive to produce.

Another type of self-dispensing container is one which dispenses the contents by 'hand pumping. The pumping may be effected by squeezing the container (e.g. squeezebottles), by depressing a plunger, etc., but even in these containers a foreign substance, i.e. air is introduced into the container in order to dispense the contents. This air might be detrimental to the container contents, and therefore this container also cannot be used in many applications. Further, it is extremely diflicult, if not impossible, to empty virtually all the contents from the container, as a good portion of the contents usually remains on the sides and/ or at the bottom.

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-dispensing container having improved characteristics with respect to the above drawbacks of aerosol and handpump dispensing containers.

The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims, but the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example only, one preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a container constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the cover of the container which cover carries the dispensing valve; I

FIG. 3 is a plan view, from below, of the cover of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the movable bottom of the container of FIG. 1, including its sealing means;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, from below, of the container of FIG. 1, and particularly illustrating the means for anchoring the movable bottom to the fixed bottom of the container; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a variation in the container of FIG. 1.

The container illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings may be made of any suitable material and includes a side wall 2, a fixed bottom 4, a movable bottom generally designated 6, and a top cover generally designated 8.

Disposed between fixed bottom 4 and movable bottom 6 is a coil spring 10 which, as shown, applies a continuous upward bias or force against movable bottom 6. The top cover 8 includes valve means for controlling the dispensing of the container contents. In this case the valve means is hand-pressure operated and also carries a spout 12 through which the contents are dispensed.

The movable bottom 6 is best seen in FIG. 4. It comprises a member or sleeve 14 of substantially rigid material and cylindrical in shape and formed with an annular groove 16 at its top end. A transverse partition 18 extends across the sleeve at the bottom of annular groove 16. A cap 20 provides a seal between the movable bottom and the interior of the sides 2 of the container. Sealing cap 20 is made of resilient material and includes a flat top portion 22 and a substantially cylindrical depending side wall or skirt 24, the latter terminating in an inturned flange or bead 26 received within annular groove 16. Side wall 24 is also formed with a tapered surface 28 decreasing in diameter toward the top.

Sealing cap 20 is made of resilient material, such as rubber or plastic. It is so constructed that as the pressure of the container contents is applied to the top 22, the latter will be deflected slightly downwardly, into the space 30 between it and partition 18 of the movable bottom. The partition is provided with vent openings 31 for this purpose. This displacement of top 22 causes the sides of the sealing cap to bulge outwardly, thereby enhancing the seal between the movable bottom and the sides 2 of the container. More particularly, since the rigid sleeve 14 underlies and supports the top wall 22 of the cap adjacent to its outer edge, but does not support the central portion of the top wall, pressure on the central portion will cause the bottom edge 24' of the cap sidewall 24 to bulge outwardly, which effects the main seal. An annular groove 25 may be formed near the bottom edge 24 of the cap to provide a second seal 24", if desired. Tapered surface 28 facilitates the rising of the movable bottom, occurring as the contents are dispensed.

When the contents are substantially completely emptied from the container, the pressure on top of cap 22 is released, thereby permitting the top of the cap to return to its flat condition under its inherent resiliency. Thus, the movable bottom permits the dispensing of virtually all the contents, except the very little that may remain between it and the output of spout 12 when the movable bottom is at its uppermost position.

Depending from partition 18 of the movable bottom is a tapered pin 32 formed with opposed projections 34. This pin is used to anchor the movable bottom to the lower portion of the container during the filling of the container, and if desired, all the time the container is stored in its full condition before use. For this purpose, fixed bottom 4 is provided with an inwardly-dished portion 36 formed with an opening 38. A pair of opposed slots 40 (FIG. 5) are formed at the sides of opening 38. When movable bottom 6 is forced to its lowermost position, pin 32 passes through opening 38, with projections 34 ofthe pin passing through slots 40 of the opening. The pin is then rotated about so that the projections 34 move away from the slots 40, thereby locking the pin and movable bottom 6 in the lowermost position. When it is desired to release the movable bottom, it is only necessary to rotate the pin so that its projections 34 come into alignment with and pass through slots 40, whereupon the pin is freed of the fixed bottom wall 4, and the upward force or bias of spring 10 becomes effective against the movable bottom 6. To facilitate the rotation of pin 32 for D ocking or releasing purposes, its bottom surface may be grooved, as shown at 41, FIG. 4.

It will be appreciated that other anchoring means could 3e used. For example, pin 32 could be anchored by the .tse of a releasable clip, or by the use of a removable fastener passing through it and engaging the fixed bot- Loin 4.

Top cover 8 which contains the valve controlling the dispensing of the container contents is preferably made of resilient material with the valve means and the spout 12 integrally formed within the cover. For this purpose, the cover illustrated in the drawings, particularly FIGS. 2 and 3, is formed by moulding rubber or other suitable plastic material into the desired shape, including a groove 42 of C-configuration at the underside of the cover. A passageway 44 extends radially from the spout 12 through the web 4-5 between the ends of the C-configuration, to the center of the C-configuration. Another passageway 46 starts from the center of the C-configuration and extends axially into the cover until it joins with the passageway 44. Passageway 4-6 terminates at the opposite end in a narrow slit 48, and it is this slit 48 which acts as the valve for controlling the dispensing of the container contents through spout 12. A cap 49 connected to the cover by a tether 50 may be used for closing the spout when the device is not in use. Both cap 49 and tether 50 are made integral with, and of the same plastic material as the cover.

The structure of cover 8 is such that normally slit 48 is closed, preventing the dispensing of the container contents, but when pressure is applied to the top surface of the cover, as by the users thumb, its bottom surface is displaced inwardly such that slit 48 is opened. The container contents are thus permitted to pass through it, and through passageways 46 and 44, and out through spout 12. Groove 42 at the bottom surface of the cover facilitates this displacement of the cover and the opening of slit 48 thereby.

FIG. 6 illustrates a variation in the container of FIG. 1. In this variation, an upwardly extending rim 51 is formed at the bottom of the container, defining an annular channel 52. A plurality of openings 54 are formed within the side wall of the container near this channel. The purpose of this variation is to catch and to provide drainage for any moisture or liquid condensing along the exterior of the container. This moisture or liquid drains into the interior of the container between the fixed bottom 4 and the movable bottom 6, where it will not come in contact with the normal contents of the container.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the above description. To fill the container, movable bottom 6 is anchored by means of its pin 32 to the fixed bottom and the substance to be dispensed by the container is introduced. The top cover 8 is applied. Pin 32 may then, or later be released, whereupon spring applies a continuous bias or force against the movable bottom, tending to force the container contents out through spout 12. Dispensing of the contents is prevented by slit 48 which acts as a valve and is normally closed. When the substance is to be dispensed, thumb-pressure is applied to the top of cover 8, which causes the bottom surface of the cover to spread slightly, enough to open slit 48 to permit the container contents to pass through it, openings 46 and 44, and spout 12, all under the bias of spring 10. As soon as the thumb-pressure is released from the cover 8, the slit is closed and this dispensing immediately ceases.

Thus, no extraneous substance need ever come into contact with the substance within the container all the while it is within the container. The device thus obviates the need for including a propellant within the substance to be dispensed, or the need to pump air into the space occupied by the substance. Also, the container may be refilled and re-used many times.

Such containers may dispense their contents drop-bydrop, as distinguished from aerosol containers. Also, the movable bottom wipes clean the side walls of the container, and therefore dispenses virtually all the container contents, which is not possible, as a practical matter, in aerosol or in hand-pumped containers. Further, no special filling machines are needed to fill the containers, and the containers may be made of less sturdy and less expensive materials than the aerosol types, since they are not subjected to the same gas-pressures and explosionhazards. Also, the containers of the present invention require fewer parts to produce than aerosol containers.

As examples of substances for the dispensing of which the novel container is especially suited, there may be mentioned toothpaste, medicaments, essential oils, foodstuffs, and particularly other substances which might be adversely affected if in contact over a long period of time with any extraneous substance, even air.

The invention contemplates the use of other biasing means in place of spring 10, for example gas-pressure.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-dispensing container comprising a movable bottom, means for biasing the movable bottom toward the top of the container, said movable bottom comprising a sealing cap of resilient material having a top wall and a substantially cylindrical side wall, said movable bottom further including a rigid member underlying said top wall and formed with a central opening, whereby the rigid member supports the top wall of the cap adjacent to its outer edge but does not support the central portion of the top wall, the pressure of the container contents on the top wall of the cap thus causing the bottom edge of the cap side wall to bulge outwardly into tight sealing engagement with the side wall of the container, and valve means at the upper portion of the container for controlling the dispensing of the contents therefrom.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises a coil spring disposed within the container between the movable bottom and the lower portion of the container, which spring applies a continuous upward force against the movable bottom.

3. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the side of the sealing cap is formed with a tapered surface decreasing in diameter toward the top thereof.

4. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said rigid member is in the form of a sleeve and has an annular groove at the upper end thereof, said sealing cap being formed with an inturned bead at the lower edge of its side wall received in said groove.

5. A container as defined in claim 4, wherein said sleeve is formed with a transverse partition between the upper and lower ends thereof, said partition being formed with at least one opening connecting the space between it and the sealing cap to the opposite side of the movable bottom.

6. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the container is formed with a fixed bottom of inwardly dished formation having an opening at the top of the dished formation, said movable bottom having a pin passing through said opening and being releasably anchored therein to the fixed bottom.

7. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein said valve means comprising a pressure-operated valve including a cover adapted to close the top of the container, the cover having a spout and a passageway connecting the spout to the interior of the container, the cover being of resilientmaterial whereby the passageway is normally closed but is opened upon the application of pressure to the top of the cover.

8. A container as defined in claim 7, wherein said passageway includes a first portion extending radially from the spout to the center of the cover, and a second portion extending axially from the first portion into the top space 5 of the container, said second portion including a slit which is normally closed but which is opened upon the application of pressure.

9. A container as defined in claim 8, wherein the inner surface of the cover is formed with a groove of C-configuration, the first passageway portion extending through the web between the ends of the C-configuration, and the second passageway portion extending into the center of the C-configuration.

10. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the container is formed with an upwardly extending rim and with openings for drainage into the container any liquid received by the rim.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,769 5/1911 Coleman 222386 6 12/ 19 12 Snyder 222386 2/ 1917 Elliot 222543 5/ 1931 Albertine 22225 6 3/1938 Crewe 222391 4/ 1941 Dewees 222386 11/ 1953 Reinhardt 222386 1 /1953 Spencer i 222386 7/ 1 956 Sherbondy 222--3'91 8/ 1957 Sethne et a1. 222-108 5/1963 Spatz 222391 FOREIGN PATENTS 3/ 1892 Great Britain.

15 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A SELF-DISPENSING CONTAINER COMPRISING A MOVABLE BOTTOM, MEANS FOR BIASING THE MOVABLE BOTTOM TOWARD THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER, SAID MOVABLE BOTTOM COMPRISING A SEALING CAP OF RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING A TOP WALL AND A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL, SAID MOVABLE BOTTOM FURTHER INCLUDING A RIGID MEMBER UNDERLYING SAID TOP WALL AND FORMED WITH A CENTRAL OPENING, WHEREBY THE RIGID MEMBER SUPPORTS THE TOP WALL OF THE CAP ADJACENT TO ITS OUTER EDGE BUT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE TOP WALL, THE PRESSURE OF THE CONTAINER CONTENTS ON THE TOP WALL OF THE CAP THUS CAUSING THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE CAP SIDE WALL TO BULGE OUTWARDLY INTO TIGHT SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER, AND VALVE MEANSA AT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CONTAINER FOR CONTROLLING THE DISPENSING OF THE CONTENTS THEREFROM. 